Ombudsman suspends 5 DPWH engineers over P188-M alleged ‘ghost’ Bulacan flood control projects
MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the preventive suspension of five Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan 1st District engineers amid an ongoing probe into alleged anomalies involving three flood control projects worth P188.9 million in Baliuag, Bulacan.
The office named DPWH project engineers Irene D. Ontingco, Kevin A. Geronimo, John Michael E. Ramos, Bernardo P. Villafuerte, and Michelle C. Cruz to be placed under a six-month preventive suspension without pay pending the resolution of administrative cases against them which are Grave Misconduct, Serious Dishonesty, and Gross Neglect of Duty.
The alleged anomalous flood control projects pertain to the the construction of reinforced concrete slope revetments in Barangays Piel, San Roque, and Sulivan in Baliuag, Bulacan in 2024 with a combined contract value of P188,891,898.23.
The respondents allegedly falsified documents relating to contract implementation, inspection, acceptance, billing and payment “to create the false impression that the contractual and legal prerequisites had been satisfied”, according to the Ombudsman’s office quoting the order.
The Ombudsman’s panel of special investigators further alleged that the respondents forged documentation to falsely imply that the joint venture “had complied with the requirements of the laws and regulations, thereby ensuring that the contracts will be awarded to it.”
“In ordering the preventive suspension, the Ombudsman found sufficient grounds to believe that the allegations against the respondents were supported by strong evidence at this stage of the proceedings,” the office noted.
The Office also deemed the suspension necessary so as not to prejudice the ongoing investigation as the engineers may have access to or custody of documents and other evidence relevant to the case.
“The preventive suspension was likewise deemed necessary to preserve evidence and prevent possible further malfeasance or misfeasance in office while the administrative proceedings are ongoing,” it stated.
Former Bulacan officer-in-charge district engineer Brice Ericson D. Hernandez, former assistant district engineer Jaypee D. Mendoza, former contract claims unit head Arjay S. Domasig and former accountant Juanito C. Mendoza are also named in the complaint, but their preventive suspension has been “rendered moot” after they have been separated from service.
The preventive suspension of DPWH engineer Norberto L. Santos and administrative officer Floralyn Y. Simbulan was also rendered moot following their detention in Quezon City and Bulacan.
Meanwhile, the suspension of DPWH former administrative officer Evelyn T. De Jesus and former engineer Ernesto C. Galang was also nullified as they have already retired from service, while former materials engineer Vicente G. Calderon and former project engineer Merg Jaron C. Laus have resigned in 2026.
Other co-respondents in the case, Commission on Audit auditors Cinderella Esperanza A. Santos and Madonna S. Atencion were also not preventively suspended, as “there is no showing that their continued presence in office poses a risk of evidence tampering or hampering the ongoing investigation,” according to the Ombudsman’s office.
“While the rest of the respondents were not suspended, they remain part of the complaint and is still under investigation,” it added, noting that the respondents also face criminal complaints before the anti-graft body.